Nigeria’s African Democratic Congress (ADC) has pledged sweeping reforms to strengthen internal democracy and inclusivity under its interim leader, former Senate President David Mark. Addressing the party’s National Executive Committee in Abuja, Mark vowed to eradicate candidate imposition, anti-party conduct, and favoritism, framing the ADC as a vehicle for equitable governance and grassroots transformation.
Mark, who took the helm of the opposition party in July, emphasized that transparent leadership and collective decision-making would guide the ADC’s strategy. “Internal democracy, accountability, and structured financing will define our operations,” he said, announcing plans to revamp local structures from polling units to national levels. A 35% quota for women in leadership roles and reserved seats for members under 40 aim to address systemic marginalization. “This isn’t tokenism—it’s a commitment to meaningful participation,” he asserted.
The party’s rapid growth was highlighted by outgoing chairman Ralph Nwosu, who noted membership surged from 600 dues-paying individuals to nearly three million within a week of Mark’s appointment. He attributed this spike to youth engagement, revealing the party’s website crashed three times due to registration traffic. “Some states now demand two million membership cards,” Nwosu said, calling the ADC’s expansion a “new dawn” for Nigerian politics.
Mark outlined immediate priorities, including forming a 50-member policy committee to draft governance blueprints for sectors like healthcare, agriculture, and infrastructure. The ADC will also revise its manifesto and constitution to reflect “progressive policies and patriotic governance,” distancing itself from Nigeria’s history of clientelist politics. “Power won’t be left to the whims of individual candidates,” he stressed, urging members to mobilize locally rather than focus on Abuja.
Nwosu challenged judicial and electoral bodies, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to uphold integrity ahead of future polls. Meanwhile, party chieftain Godson Okoye framed the ADC’s rise as pivotal to Nigeria’s economic future, urging optimism: “This journey has just begun.”
Analysts view the ADC’s reforms as a bid to capitalize on public dissatisfaction with Nigeria’s dominant parties, though its ability to translate rhetoric into electoral success remains untested. With a technocratic overhaul and youth-focused messaging, the party aims to position itself as a credible alternative in a nation long dominated by aging political elites.
